Moving Forward at TE: David Thomas, Dallas Clark, or Other

[Deus Irae]

They have Ballard and Gronk who were going to be every down players anyways. Hernandez is a slot player, not a tight end. 2006 Dallas Clark was the best ever at that role, 2013 Dallas Clark needs to retire.

If anything, they should be looking for another wideout. They should have been doing that in the first place.

Ballard was not going to be an every down player. He was going to be the 3rd TE.

 

[primetime]

Ballard was not going to be an every down player. He was going to be the 3rd TE.

Only if you consider Hernandez a tight end rather than a slot player or wide receiver, which is a more accurate description of where he lined up and the role he played.

 

[Urgent]

Concerning a 3WR/1TE offense vs. a 2WR/2TE offense:

Right now, without Gronk & Hernandez, I think the depth at TE is superior to the depth at WR.

TE Depth
Daniel Fells
Jake Ballard
Michael Hoomanawanui
Zach Sudfeld

WR Depth
Danny Amendola
Julian Edelman
Aaron Dobson
Donald Jones
Josh Boyce
Michael Jenkins
Matthew Slater
Kenbrell Thompkins

Even in the absence of Gronk & Hernandez, there are three veteran tight ends with experience in the Patriots system (sort of asterisked for Ballard, who spent a year on IR learning the system). Plus a young player who turned heads in training camp, for what that's worth.

At WR, there is one guy who caught passes in the Patriots system. Then it is rookies who have flashed exercise bike skills and journeyman free agents. And the one thing we know about Amendola, Dobson, and Boyce is that they are dealing with injuries, either current or prospective. The chances of the three top receivers staying healthy is well below the chances of the two top receivers staying healthy.

I am more confident in the Patriots third TE, in a two-TE set, than the Patriots fourth WR in a three-WR set. Especially early in the season, before these receivers have had much experience. Then, hopefully by midseason, Gronk is back and somewhere in the rotation of Ballard/Hooman/Fells/Sudfeld there is a competent partner at TE, and you keep the offense consistent.

 

[Deus Irae]

Only if you consider Hernandez a tight end rather than a slot player or wide receiver, which is a more accurate description of where he lined up and the role he played.

Hernandez was a TE. He was one of the team's two starting TEs.

 

[captain stone]

I think Dallas Clark would be the best option. You are looking for someone with receiving talent more than a blocker.

TE Free Agents (age)
Dallas Clark (34)
David Thomas (30)
Kevin Boss (29)
Randy McMichael (34)
Dante Rosario (28)
Zach Potter (27)
Chris Cooley (31)
Leonard Pope (29)
Evan Moore (28)
Will Heller (32)
Bill Bajema (30)
Travis Beckum (26)
Josh Baker (26)
Jake O'Connell (27)
Martin Rucker (28)

Travis Beckum was mentioned by Ross Tucker (FWIW) on a recent PFT episode as someone who is young,
talented (#100 overall in 2009 draft) but who also hasn't ever really put it all together.
If I'm Bill, I'm flying all 3 of Clark, Thomas & Beckum to Foxborough for physicals/workouts, and signing
whichever of them looks the best.

 

[captain stone]

Once the Patriots were unable to sign Emmanuel Sanders, there were not too many options - especially once you cross off guys you wouldn't touch (Young) or those with concussion issues (Robinson, Collie):

Free Agent WR
Brandon Lloyd
Laurent Robinson
Titus Young
Steve Breaston
Brandon Stokley
Brandon Edwards
Early Doucet
Austin Collie
Derek Hagan
Sammie Stroughter
Chaz Schilens

Add Jabar Gaffney to that list too. At least he knows the system.

 

[kennyb]

What about chris coolio? He was good once.

I think hooman could be as good as ahern with enough reps. Ballard could be every down player as could sudfeld. I'm jacked and stoked definely think things will be great next season.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

I just read on rotoworld that there is speculation the Pats could pursue a trade, for Chiefs TE Tony Moeaki. Daboll has the inside info. On him from his days in KC.
They also mention Broncos Joel Dreesen as another potential target.

Moeaki is intriguing if he can put his injury history behind him.

 

[jmt57]

FWIW, here is a synopsis of the six TE currently on the roster and the roles they might be expected to play.

TE glance after Hernandez's release - espnBoston - Field Yates

​

Michael Hoomanawanui: Hoomanawanui is similar to Hernandez in that he can be used in the "F" or move tight end position. He was often aligned out of the backfield last season, and he could be in line for a bigger role in Hernandez's absence. He was acquired at the start of last season and filled in sufficiently in spot duty.

Jake Ballard: An intriguing player, Ballard started Super Bowl XLVI for the Giants, but a knee injury has kept him off the field since that time. At 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, he's built like Gronkowski, though he's not the same athlete. He appears to be close to his old self after extensive rehab, and if Gronkowski is not ready at the start of the season, Ballard is a candidate to step up.

Daniel Fells: Signed to a three-year contract last offseason, Fells had a quiet year in 2012. Nonetheless, he has good knowledge of the system, can play both tight end spots (Y and F), and has a soft pair of hands.

Zach Sudfeld: Sudfeld was solid in offseason workouts, showing off impressive pass-catching skills and dependable hands. The 24-year-old was undrafted out of Nevada, and while it's too soon to make a hardline statement on his outlook, he appears to be ready to compete for a spot on the roster.

Brandon Ford: Another undrafted free agent this April, Ford was limited in offseason work due to an undisclosed injury. We'll learn much more about him in training camp.​

 

[Brady2Moss]

Clark had a decent year last year in an offense with decent weapons. With Gronkowski playing he should get a lot of single coverage, I'd sign him to vet min.

 

[PatsDeb]

I am hoping they can go with guys who are already on the offense, or I might take a look at someone like Boss. I would go for youth at the position at this point. I think Dallas Clark has lost it and Thomas didn't do much the first time he was here.

 

[primetime]

Boss has scrambled egg brains.

Fells had more drops last year than catches, I think. "Soft hands" is a pretty, uh, optimistic description.

 

[Se7eN]

Belichick won't beat a dead horse, he will adapt.

 

[DW Toys]

I'd add Clark if any of them. He is more of a Hernandez type of TE. Ballard and Gronk are more of end of the line TEs (although Gronk is used in motion and on rare occassions the slot). Clark is more of a split out TE and motion TE.

My unworthy opinion cousins is that Dallas Clark is the best option. I am stating this because it will take Gronk some time to heal and get up to speed. Clark leads the Team in catches in 2013 for the Pats. His body of work on the run heavy, inconsistent quarterbacking of Josh Freeman was outstanding . He is the Seau, Booby Hamilton type consonant pro BB enjoys. If DA winds up both inside and outside, I still see your 3rd down receiver as Clark.
This is all pending you get him now, not just before the season starts.


I'd rather sign another OT for run support because Hoomanawanui and Fells are non-factors in the passing game as in "0". When Hoomanawanui and Fells are out on a pattern that is just to keep the D honest, not a threat in any way.

There might be validity in Tebow. I would suspect his hands are no worse that Hou and Fells and his ability to RAC is obviously higher.If he can make a play he has value.

The wild card is Sudfield. If he plays the Hernandez hybrid Slot/move TE at 6'7" and 253 with decent speed what nickle corner covers him?

DW Toys

 

[captain stone]

I think hooman could be as good as ahern with enough reps. Ballard could be every down player as could sudfeld. I'm jacked and stoked definely think things will be great next season.

Please tell me that you're just kidding.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I think hooman could be as good as ahern with enough reps. Ballard could be every down player as could sudfeld. I'm jacked and stoked definitely think things will be great next season.

Please tell me that you're just kidding.

Sudfield intrigues me. Very similar workout numbers to Zach Ertz who was a very high #2 pick. Productive in his one healthy year in college and we all know he flashed in the camps even before we knew of this TE issue. Seems like a great guy too. If he can stay healthy (a big if based on his history) he could be a very interesting guy.

HooMan and Fells - I love them AS BACKUPS.

Ballard should be able to play enough to give us a legit two TE offense with Gronk but Ballard has a way to go to show he can be more than a blocker.

 

[tonyto3690]

In NY I always thought Ballard was massively underrated just because Eli was so terribly inaccurate, and in general quality blocking goes unnoticed.

He's a bit bulky, but so is Gronk. He has good hands and underrated athleticism. He is in the top 15 TEs in the NFL. I think 500 yards, 8 TDs is completely doable for him.

 

[supafly]

My guess is that we're pretty much sticking with what we have, with the exception of possible trying to upgrade on either Hooman or Fells.

I think Fells' injury last year may have hurt him worse than we initially realized, and if it didn't he'll possibly be upgraded.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Please tell me that you're just kidding.

Thanks for the laugh.
Sure, Hooman being equivocated to AH is funny, however, the one about Ballard being an every down player (which I take to mean he could play a lot of downs approaching what AH played) isn't one lacking in complete real possibility is it? Sure, he still has got something to prove. Sure, him and AH don't really play the same position. But beside those facts with the promise Ballard has shown, the likelihood him and Gronk are the two best TE's on the team, the Patriots are pretty much utterly SOL (IMHO) on replacing AH and what he brings to the offense, the situation probably requires change in offensive strategy......given all that, Ballard being an "every down" player is not a moment of levity is it?

With Ballard, previously, I was left thinking 'is their room for him?'. Yet IF he is as good as some seem to think he is, considering the 100% loss of AH along with Gronk's health issue uncertainty, not only is my thought now proven erroneous but the Giants apparent mistake of leaving him open for 'poaching' was clearly a massive stroke of good luck for the Patriots.

 

[micronin127]

I think that they will go with what they have got and if anything add a player like Dallas Clark who at least plays a similar position to what Hernandez played.

I think that Daniel Fells has to earn a roster spot as he is on the books for too much money if he doesn't measure up to an UDFA like Sudfeld. He could get cut depending on the competition.

I think that Gronk's readiness for the year is in question and that cements a spot for Ballard who at least has the size to get on the field as a blocker. Gronk could be split out in the slot more often when he is ready to play to both alleviate hits and strain on his back as well as replace a little of what Hernandex brought.

Gronk (PUP list)
Ballard (lock)
Sudfeld/Fells (both have a shot)
Hooman (probable lock)
Ford (practice squad)

I'd sign Clark or Thomas, probably at the expense of Fells as that would mean not everyone would make the 53-man.